Alberta Party leader hopefuls coming
By Gillian Slade on January 26, 2018.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com @MHNGillianSlade
The three candidates vying for leadership of the Alberta Party are coming to Medicine Hat.
The candidates will be at the Heartwood Cafe, 403 N. Railway St., next Thursday from 7-9 p.m.
It is an opportunity for anyone interested in the Alberta Party and the leadership candidates to find out more and ask questions. You do not need to be a member of the Alberta Party to attend — everyone is welcome.
In an informal setting there will be an opportunity for each of the candidates, Rick Fraser, Kara Levis and Stephen Mandel, to address people and answer some questions, said Blake Pedersen, president of the Cypress-Medicine Hat constituency association. They will also be available to talk individually to attendees.
The leadership race was triggered after former leader Greg Clark stepped down in November. He remains an MLA with the party and has said he will run in the next election.
The next provincial election must be called by May 2019, about 16 months away.
Pedersen, who served as Medicine Hat’s MLA under the Wildrose party in 2012 and crossed the floor to the Progressive Conservative party in 2014, says he will not be running in the next election.
“I have no intention,” said Pedersen, who joined the Alberta Party last November. “Never say never but I’m more interested in doing what I can to just try and build up this new political party and go from there.”
Pedersen did not have at hand the current number of Alberta Party members in this area.
“I think there are more people paying attention than actually have memberships right now,” said Pedersen. “I think it’s indicative of a new party as well and a party that’s going through this leadership process.”
A lot of people are standing on the sidelines waiting to see who the new leader will be, said Pedersen. Those who would like a say in who that leader will be are buying memberships in order to vote.
“I think having the leadership candidates coming through Medicine Hat will help to raise awareness..” said Pedersen.
Each leadership candidate has a different background.
Fraser is in his second term as MLA for Calgary-South East. He was elected MLA under the Progressive Conservative party banner in 2012. In September, after the merger of Wildrose and PC parties to form the United Conservative Party, he chose to sit as an independent. He has 12 years experience as an advanced-care paramedic operating as crew chief in Calgary.
Levis has gained an understanding of the challenges faced in the energy sector in her capacity as Calgary lawyer with the Energy Law group at TransCanada. She has also been active in encouraging women to run for elected office.
Mandel served as Edmonton’s mayor from 2004 to 2013, and won a byelection to become a Progressive Conservative MLA for Edmonton-Whitemud in 2014. Prior to the byelection he was appointed minister of health by then premier Jim Prentice.
To vote in the leadership election you need to be a member of the Alberta Party by Feb. 12. Online voting will start at noon on Feb. 25 and finish at noon on Feb. 27 using a preferential online ballot. The winner will be announced Feb. 27.
Brier Albano is president of the Medicine Hat Alberta Party constituency association.
